Pakistan on Friday (October 9, 2026) said a “substantial number” of its forces and resources were already deployed in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming its commitment to protect the kingdom's sovereignty under the Makkah defence agreement, amid concerns over the Houthi threat.
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number → say → threat
Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan made the remarks at his weekly press briefing in response to a question on the growing threat posed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels to Saudi Arabia.
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Khan → make → Arabia
Referring to a recent meeting of defence officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye in Riyadh, Mr. Khan said the three countries had reaffirmed their unity in ensuring deterrence and safeguarding Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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countries → refer → sovereignty
He said the three countries had also agreed to mobilise resources rapidly in accordance with their requirements.
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countries → say → requirements
“Pakistan already has a substantial number of forces, as well as resources, in Riyadh.
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Pakistan → have → Riyadh
It is now up to the organisation to assess the threat perception and operate in accordance with its own mandate,” Mr. Khan said.
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Khan → assess → mandate
He said it would not be appropriate for him to disclose operational details, including the nature and extent of any further deployment, adding that such decisions would be taken by the alliance’s headquarters.
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decisions → say → headquarters
“It is for the organisation and the alliance’s headquarters to decide how much deployment is required, when and where it should take place, and the countries that are part of the alliance will make the necessary contributions accordingly,” Mr. Khan said.
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Khan → decide → contributions
The spokesperson also rejected reports that Pakistani fighter jets were involved in cross-border operations in Yemen, describing them as speculative.
“As regards your question about Pakistani fighter jets being involved in cross-border operations, this is speculative news, which has also been refuted by the Minister for Information,” he said.
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he → reject → Information
Mr. Khan said Pakistan's forces had been deployed in Saudi Arabia since 1982 in one capacity or another, sometimes under logistical arrangements and sometimes as part of training missions.
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forces → say → missions
He added that deployments had again taken place following the signing of the bilateral defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year and the trilateral arrangement this year.
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deployments → add → Pakistan
The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye on August 7 following a summit in Mecca.
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Agreement → sign → Mecca
The trilateral defence pact stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be considered an attack against all.
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attack → stipulate → all
Following the escalation of Houthi attacks, the pact's Strategic Political and Defence Committee met in Riyadh on October 5 and decided on the deployment of military forces in the Gulf kingdom.
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Committee → follow → kingdom
Khan said the Makkah alliance is a defensive organisation intended to defend the three countries against aggression.
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alliance → say → aggression
“Therefore, these forces would not cross the border into Yemen to launch attacks against the Houthis.
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forces → cross → Houthis
However, they would, of course, be utilised to defend the country’s territory and safeguard its sovereignty,” he said.
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he → utilise → sovereignty
The spokesperson said that the attacks on Saudi Arabia were indeed a matter of great concern for Pakistan, given that approximately 2.5 million Pakistanis reside in the Kingdom, and their numbers are growing.
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numbers → say → Kingdom
He said a Pakistani truck driver in Yemen was also killed in a drone attack, showing a risk of people falling victim to this escalation.
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people → say → escalation
“That is why Pakistan has consistently advocated de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy.
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Pakistan → advocate → escalation
At the same time, we remain committed to protecting Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and providing our community with all the necessary support for their welfare,” the spokesperson said.
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spokesperson → remain → welfare
He also said that Pakistan stands in unwavering solidarity with the Kingdom
“In line with the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, our commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security remains resolute.
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commitment → say → sovereignty
We reaffirm the Kingdom’s legitimate right to defend its people and protect its critical infrastructure,” Khan said.
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Khan → reaffirm → infrastructure
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